Tuesday Scoop: Embassy Exit

The big story…

U.S. Withdraws Embassy Staff from Venezuela Amidst Power Outage

Yesterday Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that all American Embassy personnel would be leaving Venezuela. In the sixth day since the country’s power blackout, Venezuela is in a state of chaos. Although some progress has been made to restore power to the country, President Nicolas Maduro appeared on national television to claim that the U.S. had launched a cyberattack on Venezuela’s power grid causing the blackout.

In global news…

Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund Divests from Non-Renewable Energies

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund that manages more than $1 trillion of the country’s assets, announced on Friday, March 8 that it will divest from oil and gas exploration investment firms. However, the sovereign wealth fund will continue to hold financial stakes in larger firms such as BP and Shell that already have renewable energy divisions. The last major divestment the sovereign wealth fund committed to was in 2014 when they dropped 50 coal companies from the fund. Read more in Duane Paul Murphy’s report for CMN.

In politics…

Tucker Carlson Refuses to Apologize for Sexist Remarks

Fox News has not made any comments regarding one of their hosts, Tucker Carlson, after a progressive group called him out for his history of misogynistic comments. CNN reports, “In the years before Carlson became a Fox host, he called into the ‘Bubba the Love Sponge’ radio show and delighted the shock jock by saying all sorts of crude things. Media Matters for America, a progressive press watchdog which campaigns against Fox, obtained and published some of the audio clips on Sunday.” Carlson has not made an apology and invites people who disagree with his comments to come on to his show and explain why.

In higher education…

North Dakota State University Football Player Wears Socialist Pin at the Trump White House

Jack Albrecht, a North Dakota State University junior undergraduate who plays as an offensive guard for the school’s football team, wore a socialist pin at the White House on Monday, March 4. The university’s team, known as the Bisons, were invited by President Trump after winning the annual NCAA Division I Football Championship Game in January in Frisco, Texas against the Eastern Washington University Eagles. Read more in Duane Paul Murphy’s report for CMN.

Trending today…

Billy’s Donuts

Last but not least…

Interview: Addison Agen

Addison Agen is a 17-year-old folk singer/songwriter from Fort Wayne, Indiana, who placed second on Season 13 of The Voice. I got in touch with her to discuss her musical beginnings, The Voice, and new music. Read more in Brianna Vacca’s interview for CMN.

Today’s Morning Scoop was made possible by Duane Paul Murphy, Natalia Kolenko, Brianna Vacca, and the CMN Staff. Yesterday was National Nap Day. We hope you caught some Z’s. P.S. Was this newsletter forwarded by a friend? Subscribe here to get the Morning Scoop straight to your inbox every day.